❓ Hon Dee Margetts questions the Treasurer regarding a change in a government stationery contract, specifically the transfer of a 2% levy from the supplier to individual government cost centres. The Treasurer admits he cannot find the answer.
AnsweredQoN 1619Legislative Council
Asked
4 December 2003
Member
QuestionView source ↗
LEVY
The Department of Treasury and Finance recently awarded tender No 12603 for the supply of copy paper, envelopes and office stationery for Western Australian government agencies to Boise Cascade Office Products (Australia) Pty Ltd and Corporate Express Australia Ltd. Contrary to previous contracts, in which stationery suppliers paid a two per cent service fee on the total amount of product purchased to the Department of Treasury and Finance at the end of every quarter, the current contract stipulates that each individual government cost centre will now have to meet this expense. (1) Can the Treasurer explain why the decision to transfer this two per cent levy from the supplier to the end user was made in the drafting of this contract? (2) Was the decision-making process guided by public interest concerns or by the desire to make this a sweeter deal for the contracted companies by assisting with an increase in the profit margins? (3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS
The Department of Treasury and Finance recently awarded tender No 12603 for the supply of copy paper, envelopes and office stationery for Western Australian government agencies to Boise Cascade Office Products (Australia) Pty Ltd and Corporate Express Australia Ltd. Contrary to previous contracts, in which stationery suppliers paid a two per cent service fee on the total amount of product purchased to the Department of Treasury and Finance at the end of every quarter, the current contract stipulates that each individual government cost centre will now have to meet this expense. (1) Can the Treasurer explain why the decision to transfer this two per cent levy from the supplier to the end user was made in the drafting of this contract? (2) Was the decision-making process guided by public interest concerns or by the desire to make this a sweeter deal for the contracted companies by assisting with an increase in the profit margins? (3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(1) Can the Treasurer explain why the decision to transfer this two per cent levy from the supplier to the end user was made in the drafting of this contract? (2) Was the decision-making process guided by public interest concerns or by the desire to make this a sweeter deal for the contracted companies by assisting with an increase in the profit margins? (3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(2) Was the decision-making process guided by public interest concerns or by the desire to make this a sweeter deal for the contracted companies by assisting with an increase in the profit margins? (3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(1) Can the Treasurer explain why the decision to transfer this two per cent levy from the supplier to the end user was made in the drafting of this contract? (2) Was the decision-making process guided by public interest concerns or by the desire to make this a sweeter deal for the contracted companies by assisting with an increase in the profit margins? (3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(2) Was the decision-making process guided by public interest concerns or by the desire to make this a sweeter deal for the contracted companies by assisting with an increase in the profit margins? (3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(3) Was every government department and agency consulted about this change? (4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(4) If yes to (3), what was the general sentiment about this change? (5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
(5) Does the Department of Treasury and Finance intend to compensate government departments and agencies for the imposition of this new two per cent levy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
I have searched both my folders for an answer to that question, and I cannot find it in either. If it turns up through the door, I will grab it and wave the honourable member down.
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